Starting Chemo May 2008
Comments
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whee! u guyz talk a lot!
umm... ok I'l see if I can get a national DevaCurl haircutter list for y'all.
I talked to Karin about Hair and RanD about MonaVie yesterday... it was fun!
I redid the whole store yesterday and took most of today off( I was in the store for 3 hours only) and am child free all weekend. L is at cubscout camp and T(the BF) is off watching Watchmen with his BFF in Ottawa. He is such a geek, he took a train for 3 hours to see his best friend so they could watch the premiere of the movie.
I worked out twice today and am home cleaning the house now. ( Julie, I did not work out really at all during chemo, just a lot b4 and lots more now)
L, I will keep you posted about the 5th.
Love to all.. and Gracie... more power to u with the surgery decision. 3 of you in surgery in the next few weeks now? Gracie, Siouxie and Kerry? Whew!
Gotta finish my cleaning and get to bed.
xoN
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Can we have a very big slumber party sometime soon?
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morning everyone!
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Busy day today. Was up early with the grandson. Then I had to go stand in line an hour for my dog's free rabies shot. Went back again 45 minutes this time for the cat. Wish I could have done them both at the same time. After all I use to carry a baby on each hip but the cat weighs too much and the dog is a yappy Chihuahua that needs my full attention when around other dogs. I should have invested in a pet carrier.
Now I have to rearrange furniture for a new entertainment center a friend is passing on to us and have to go get a new water heater. Don't think I'm cooking tonight, take out sounds good.
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good morning......
nice and sunny at last!!!! I will be putting on a portable tank and sitting in the sun who hooooooo.....
later gators...oh wait, maybe I should check for some eggs....lol....love ya chookie-gal!
randie
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I still have a page to catch up on . . . but I am in the last weekend broomball tournament for the season and I am checking in between games.
I just got back from my first haircut. Not much off of course, but trying to even things out a bit. I have to admit, I am loving the short hair!
Otter, I would love to meet you anywhere in MN in April. You tell me where you are and I will grab the GPS and find you! Keep me posted.
I have been jotting all of the songs down and will need to cross reference to make sure I have everyone for one song! Thanks for sending them, it will be a great CD! Noelle - thanks for the offer to help with the MP3s, if I get stuck, I will let you know.
Linda - Tell me more about the 1/2 marathon your running and the time you need to qualify for the NY marathon. My next scheduled races are the Boulder Bolder 10k (Colorado) in May and the PF Chang Rock -n- Roll Marathon in Jan 2010 (it is a SBK sponsored event).
RanD - Love your Monday doc! Ativan was the only drug that could help me sleep through. Thinking and praying for you my dear!
Robin - Welcome back!!!
Chris - good luck with the MRI on Monday.
Kristy - Glad the MUGA went well despite the multiple sticks.
Gracie - Holy cats you do move fast. I am glad to hear that you and your DH are good with your decision.
Just received a note that another friend as diagnosed with BC . . . cancer sucks!
Running to broomball - love to all!
Jean
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Hey - all of my photos in my album disappeared. Anyone know how that could happen?
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Facebook album
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Jean I just went there and saw photos.
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Jean, I'm looking at one album on your FB page, called "Year in Review." It has 14 pics.
Maybe you're looking at a FB page that doesn't show a link to your photos? I don't know. They're there, from my point-of-view.
otter
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RanD, I'm getting egg-rage. My chooks have settled in to the point where they come out of the chook-house at the start of the day (instead of at dusk...go figure). I have also worked out that all the fuss the bigger chook was making was to alert the others that a cat (not mine) had jumped into their yard. I'm getting a bit obsessed, aren't I? Maybe I should be posting on backyardchooks, or something like that! hahaha. Yesterday I spent the afternoon lugging sleepers for our vegie-garden.( Drew is away at the annual Men's Gathering, a brilliant thing that sends him home energized and so loving). It was an amazing day..sparkling sunshine. Same again today and tomorrow. Tasmania has indian summers to die for, so the veggie-patch is the project now, before the days start to slide into winter..yuk! I had the chickens clucking and peeping, and both cats and the dog monitoring my every move yesterday..it was so nice. Rusty the Intrepid was hilarious. He literally did not stop playing for a minute. At one stage I heard mega-rustling in one of the thick shrubs and he fell, "Splat!" on the ground. Cracked me up. I fear that kitten is in for trouble,..just like the Rusty X 2 before him. Re recon: I can't remember what the surgery is called, but I'm going to see her again this week or next to choose implants etc. She actually charges for the first consult, and then the rest are free. The surgery is very reasonable and covered by insurance. I will question her in great detail and report back. I didn't want the DIEP or TRAM because the recovery time would be too long for me, especially given my commute to work, and the type of work I do. This is my year for no sick leave!
Have a great day..I'm into the shower and then into the veggie-patch. XXX -
Hello all - I think I have discovered what brought me back.
cancerversary
Which one really counts? The day I had the 1st mammo with the suspicious lesion? The day the words came out of my GYN NP's mouth or the day I met with the breast surgeon? Or lumpectomy day or three weeks later on mastectomy day?
How about the anniversary of the first day I found this website and YOU! I like that one!
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Robin, I think they all count, and I think each one warrants a sinfully luscious dessert. I heard there was a key lime cheesecake available somewhere up in the Pacific NW ... I sense the scent is coming from Washington state...?
Hugs...
otter
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Kerry - where did you get that term "FECK"? I kinda like it but I am worked the other "F" word would end up falling out of my mouth.
Noelle - tell me about this DEVA stuff. I checked the products out online. The containers are a pretty green color but what do they really do for you? Do you personally use any of them? You hair looks so perfect in your pics. The gray in my hair at times makes it as unruly as a brillo pad/
Otter - I remember the Chcken Fat song. Did you post a link and I missed it?
Gracie - the flashbacks must have been hell. I understand the moving quickly and send you prayers across the miles.
My Power Juice is made my Nature's Way. Tell me about Mona Vie.
Roxi - how did the haircut and highlight go? Did you end up with a lot of gray after chemo? I am so nervous to commit to perment color as the roots would always need touch up.
ranD - what is eissac tea?
julieC - did your PCP refill your Ativan? I alternate between Ativan and Ambien CR. Four times I have tried to come off the sleep aides but it didn't work. I'll stay on Femara - they refill the sleep aides.
Everyone else - hope your weekend is going well
REMEMBER THE TIME CHANGE
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Hey girls! A most blissful day here in Tasmania: 25 deg C, no wind, no clouds..yeah! My stepdaughter (28) and I went to the Evandale market..usually a low-key somewhat disappointing affair but on the Labour Day long weekend it's HUGE because of the Glover Prize for landscape painting, which is exhibited in the pavillion at the market. So today there were SO many people. It was a great show (the winner gets AUD$30,0000..not to be sneezed at!) We had such a great wander around. Then I went into town and bought some treasures (pantry doors, and a lid for my nesting box HA!) from the tip-shop..where all the dumpster stuff ends up. Then I spent the entire afternoon making myself beyond DAT building all the vegetable garden beds out of old sleepers. Gosh I felt good. Then Fibber DEMANDED a walk and Alice (SD) rang and wanted to come back over for a drink! I secretly could have cried but.....I walked the dog, found a cat stuck VERY high up a tree, found the owner, got home, had a shower (b-l-i-s-s-s-s) and then Al arrived. We ate spag bol and drank a bottle of red and now I am on here. I have a ranga-kitten hooked onto my right arm (oh feck! It's my lymph arm!!) and am so blissfully DAT...Tomorrow (the actual holiday) I am going to put all my washing away even if it kills me. Yep, it will be TOOT for Kerry. Julie, thanks for your FB message. It was so sweet! And I am having an awesome weekend
I can't remember who asked, but this recon is done using the 'external oblique turnover flap' method. Beats me..but I have the number of a gal who has had it done and I have sms'd her. Gosh I love this town...I have two young, crack girl surgeons working together to give me new, cancer-free boobs AND the number of a happy patient. Only in Tasmania....Girls, Avitan and Ambien CR: what are they? I can do the hot flashes but I need to sleep..the Femara-biz has gone on a little too long. Robin, I'm with you..this is actually a mutual arrangement: allow me some sleep and I'll stay on the Femara. BTW, how long have you been on it? I need tips on how to keep walking on my feet, for feck's sake
Feck..now there's a word for the modern breast cancer patient. Comes from the Irish, who say it instead of the other, so as not to offend. As I understand it, 'feck' is so commonplace it has just about replaced the other so is..just about a swear-word! My students find it hilarious, as they do 'shite'. Yes, I teach Art AND polite cursing lol! Ok, how about this..as I type I'm listening to hub's ipod and on comes:Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now." YES!!! Crank it up girls..it's our song XXX -
Kerry - Ambien CR is a sleeping pill (supposed to help you go to sleep more quickly and stay alseep). I usually get 7 hours with it. Ativan is for anxiety, it's a controlled substance, it helps me sleep better that the Ambien and I wake up without a "hang over" effect.
I was given many refills for both after diagnosis and chemo but now that is over they think I should be coming off this meds. The Femara has caused a significant number of side effects whic I am combating with supplements such as Tumeric/Cucurmin for joint/muscle pain (make help you with walking) and sleep aids. So if my Onco wants me to stay on Femara for 5 years he will prescribe me these meds of 5 years. Seems fair enough to me.
Gotta get ready for my shift.
Good Day to all
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Hi, all! I'm looking outside at the fog and feeling very jealous of Kerry's descriptions of indian summer in tasmania (not to mention the chooks, eggs or no eggs). The fog is beautiful and mysterious in its own way, and a sign that spring will eventually straggle home (another sign: a HUGE thunderstorm last night) but i'd gladly trade it for some sparkling sunshine.
Jean, the half marathon that i'll be running - the "martian" - is a local one in the detroit suburbs. most of the course is in a park. it's in always run the weekend closest to april fool's day, and has a goofy extraterrestrial theme. i haven't run it before, so i don't know how far they take the martian shtick (volunteers dressed as aliens handing out gatorade??). it's run in conjunction with a full marathon, so i may try to key off the 3:30 pace group . . . I need a 1:44 to get an automatic entry into the NYCM. (My PR from a few years ago is 1:29:xx, but i can barely run a quarter mile at that pace now.) I'm excited to hear you're running the Boulder Bolder - I hear it's a great event.
Randie, i'm picturing you relaxing in the sunshine - hope you have a beautiful day today, too.
love eddie's idea of a big slumber (or non-slumber, for the insomniacs, which i think is all of us at least part of the time) party.
Linda
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Hey everyone, nice sunny day here in NoCal. can't wiat for it to warm up so I can go out and play....lol..
really quiet here since fam is at church.
Robin: Eissac tea is
Essiac or Essiac Tea is a blend of herbs used to make a tea that is believed[1] by some and questioned by others[2] to have cancer-treating properties. It was discovered by a Canadian nurse, Rene Caisse, who named it after her last name spelled backwards. The original formula is believed to have its roots in native Canadian Ojibwa medicine and contains greater burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra, formerly known as Ulmus fulva), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and Indian or Turkish rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)[3].
And it pretty much is a tea that smells like it tastes. Although we put stevia in it and it tastes a little better. Plus, now that I am used to it, I don't shudder as much when drinking it...lol
Supposedly:
Effectiveness
With respect to the use of Essiac in treating cancer, the U.S. National Institutes of Health's Medline states that as of early 2008:
Currently, there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of this herbal mixture as a therapy for any type of cancer. Different brands may contain variable ingredients, and the comparative effectiveness of these formulas is not known. None of the individual herbs used in Essiac has been tested in rigorous human cancer trials (rhubarb has shown some anti-tumor properties in animal experiments; slippery elm inner bark has not; sheep sorrel and burdock have been used traditionally in cancer remedies). Numerous individual patient testimonials and reports from manufacturers are available on the Internet, although these cannot be considered scientifically viable as evidence. Individuals with cancer are advised not to delay treatment with more proven therapies. [4]
[edit] History
Caisse set up a free clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario which ran from 1934 to 1942. During that time a number of petitions were presented to the Legislature in Ontario, in 1938 calling for Rene to be allowed to practice throughout Ontario, but such permission was not granted.
Medline notes there are more than 40 different essiac-like products now being sold in North America, Europe, and Australia. One of these alternative preparations contains eight herbs, adding red clover (Trifolium pratense), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), and kelp (Laminaria digitata) to the original four ingredients. Other preparations add echinacea and black walnut (Juglans nigra) or other ingredients, such as cat's claw ( Uncaria tomentosa )[5].
According to Medline, based on tradition, some people take essiac tea on occasion for general health purposes, detoxification, or for healing of various ailments other than cancer. Some of these other ailments include AIDS, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, immune system disorders, liver problems, Lyme disease, and lupus erythematosus. NIH's Medline says even less evidence is available for these applications than for cancer. [6]
Updating the history of Essiac, Medline says:
In the 1970s, Caisse provided the formula to Resperin Corporation Ltd., with the understanding that Resperin would coordinate a scientific trial in humans. Although a study was initiated, it was stopped early amidst questions of improper preparation of the formula and inadequate study design. This research was never completed. Resperin Corporation Ltd., which owned the Essiac name, formally went out of business after transferring rights to the Essiac name and selling the secret formula to Essiac Products Ltd., which currently distributes products through Essiac International.
Thank you wikipedia......
It was recommended to me by a 7 yr Stage 4 bc patient who does chemo on and off as well as alternatives. She gave me a long laundry list of things to do. So far, I am SLOWLy doing them as some are a little too much right now.
Hey, whenever the talk show world finally decides to use us, then we get the mother of all sleepovers!!!!!
later gaters, randie
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What's up with the Canadians creating businesses based on their name spelled backwards??? :)Love you and your products Noelle!
Good luck in the race Linda, let us know how you did.
For those of you that can, enjoy the bright beautiful weather . . . heard something about another major snowfall about to hit Minnesota.
Have fun on vacation Roxi and Angels!
Jean
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Speaking of beautiful weather yes it is. Yesterday we got up in the 70's. Last night we slept with the bedroom window open. Today it hit 70 but the sun keeps fading in and out. Tonight it will get done to the high 40's so I think I'll just keep the bedroom window cracked. Gonna run, want to go back outside to take in whats left of it. Just wanted to check in to say hi.
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I could've talked to Eddie for hours and hours! I had a fabulous time meeting up with Eddie today, in Seattle. Eddie picked my daughter and I up outside the ferry terminal and drove to Pike Place Market. We had lunch at a nice little restaurant in the market, that overlooked the water.
Believe it or not, about 20 minutes before this photo....it was snowing pretty good! We must've looked funny to all the other patrons...we just had to touch each others hair
Here we are
Thank you Eddie! You are even more amazing in person. I can't wait to do this again.
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Evening ladies,
Didn't do too much today. Not liking the time change one little bit. My dh always tries to convince us that it is just a number on a clock, but my body knows otherwise. Not looking forward to getting girls up in the morning.
Robin - yes, my pcp gave me the Ativan scrip, but was a little reluctant. I tried to cut them in half last week, but it just didn't work as well. Today I just felt completely out of it so I'm going back to full strength. My mom suggested tylenol and benadryl, but that sounds worse. Happy cancerversry. My onc said I couldn't call it a year until I was a year out of chemo which won't be until the end of July. I'm calling it 1 year on March 21-that's when the lump was removed. Really, we should celebrate every day in some little way.
I have started walking with my mother. We went Fri and Sat so I'm hoping I will feel better after being out in the fresh air some more. We had high winds here today, but didn't get much rain or tornados, unlike other towns in the area. Last week lost 3 shutters so dh said no need to put them back on if they are going to come off again. Jean - I hope you don't get a lot of snow. We watched weather channel during our storms and the whole midwest looked crazy.
Otter - loved the flower pictures over on fb. I have about 3" of green sticking out of the ground so we are getting closer.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. My 10yo had a piano performance at a local nursing home and my 13 yo had an informal recital. She is in the community music program offered by the local university and has a student for a teacher. The university finished a new fine arts building last fall and the program was held in a new recital hall. It was very nice. They have a brand new Steinway grand piano that they played on. Some of the younger kids couldn't reach the floor with their feet. They were so cute. Katie played a song from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. She has definitely improved. Riley is in a program called Simply Music and that works for her.
Cris - we will be with you for your MRI tomorrow and for everyone else testing this week.
Eddie and Adrienne - how was the visit?
Have a great Monday!
Julie
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I just saw the pictures after I submitted my post. You both are truly beautiful women! So glad you got to meet.
Julie
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Eddie and Adrienne - I am so happy you had the opportunity to meet. There is something about the picture in the mirror I especially like.
This week I am going to get a map, put pins at each of your locations and dream of a road trip.
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A-w-w-w-w-w-!! Eddie & Adie!!! You are so REAL. You could be just down the road here..except maybe you'd have a few too many clothes on....You both look so WELL!! I was looking at that blonde girl in the mirror pic..the one with the carefully cut trendy hair, and I thought, "I hope you never have to find out how these girls got their boy-cuts"! Thanks for showing us..I feel misty now. XXX
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Oh wow! I could just reach thru the monitor and hug you both!!!!!!!!! Those pics are priceless :O) I'm hoping I am able to meet up with noelle next month in detroit, but I have to see how the work situation goes first. Damn economy!
SO much for me to comment on, but just don't have it in me at the moment... fighting off a head cold. yay for me. Better than the flu I guess.
RanD~ I have some of that tea I am sending you in the next week or so. After I get over this cold first.. don't want to mail you germies. <wink>
Sending my love to each of you!
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Sable, my home town is Columbus, OH. I was just there 3 weeks ago. Will be going back in June. maybe earlier if Mom needs extra help after her hip fracture/surgery/rehab.
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Love to all. I have a killer headache and lots to do b4 bed.
I am soooooooo Happy that E and A got to meet!!!!
Robin, yes I use and sell Deva. I have not used anything but for almost 6 years and never will.
I am 100% sulphate free in my house, body and hair and hope everyone else will be soon too.
I will PM u about Monavie.
I will read more of the last 2 days later.
xoN
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That photo warms my heart and makes me smile. You both are so beautiful and that is awesome that you were able to meet!
Off to bed, well wishes to all!
Jean
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If you can find it, my daughter has the amazing ability of capturing the perfect picture. I have posted it to my FB profile via her album. It's B&W and it captures the moment perfectly. I love it.
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